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Apply for a Conference or Training Grant

Before You Apply:

Please note that Pat Waters and Luisa Doughty no longer work for the Trust. Please send all correspondence to info@kirkhousetrust.org.

The Kirkhouse Trust is a charitable organisation supporting agricultural crop improvement, especially grain legumes in less developed countries.
This scheme offers partial funding for scientists:

• that have been invited to give an oral presentation at a conference, or
• for scientists wishing to attend a training course.

The Trust is currently accepting applications.

Please note that from time to time, pressure on the Trust's limited administrative resources requires the Trust to suspend the scheme at short notice. Therefore, it is advisable to check the Trust's website before submitting an application, to confirm whether the Trust is accepting applications.

Please read the guidelines below carefully to ensure you are eligible for a grant before applying.

• The Trust will only approve applications received from less developed countries (i.e. Africa, Asia, South America, etc.). Visa applications can take a long time to be processed; therefore all applications must be submitted at least 3 months before the conference or training course start date.
• The conference topic and the focus for training must be agricultural crop improvement; typically a food crop.
• The applicant should have secured partial funding from another source. The Trust will not normally provide all costs, that is, registration or course fees, accommodation and travel costs.
• Please submit the completed Trust application form with additional documentation by e-mail only (postal applications are not required) to info@kirkhousetrust.org.
• Once a grant has been approved by the Trustees, the applicant should obtain any visas needed for travel. No monies will be disbursed until the Trust receives confirmation that visas have been secured. All applications must be submitted at least three months before the start date of the conference or training course as some visa applications take a long time to be approved.
• If payment of registration and course fees or accommodation costs is approved, the payment will normally be made direct to the agencies concerned.
• Economy class travel should be booked with an airline or reputable travel agent. The Trust will pay these costs directly to the airline or travel agent by an international bank transfer.
• The Trust must receive an invoice for all payments. If exceptional circumstances require payments to be made retrospectively, all receipts should be scanned and sent to the Trust as e-mail attachments.
• All scientists in receipt of a conference attendance or training grant are required to submit a short report to the Trust within two months of their return to their country of residence.
• Applicants awarded a conference attendance or training grant should note that they cannot apply for another grant for a further four years.

For Attendance at a Conference:

• The applicant should have written confirmation that they have been invited to give an oral presentation before they apply to the Trust. Grants are not available for scientists planning to present a poster at a conference.
• The applicant should e-mail a pdf copy of the abstract for the oral presentation along with the application form and other documentation to info@kirkhousetrust.org.
• The Trust will not normally fund a per diem rate or out-of-pocket expenses associated with conference attendance. If this is an issue for the applicant, s/he should consider another funding source for these costs.

For Attendance at a Training Course:

• The applicant should send a copy of the course programme along with the application form and other documentation.
• The applicant should have received written confirmation that they have already been accepted on the course, before they apply to the Trust.
• Evidence should be presented that:
  1. The training course is relevant to the scientist's current research interests and,
  2. It is of clear benefit to the applicant's country of origin / residence.

Why Some Applications are Rejected:

• The Trust rejects two thirds of all applications received. Please read this document for reasons as to why this is so.

Download Application Forms:

• Conference Grant Application Form - Once you have fully completed this form, please e-mail your application to info@kirkhousetrust.org.
• Training Grant Application Form - Once you have fully completed this form, please e-mail your application to info@kirkhousetrust.org.

Download Report Forms:

• Conference Attendance Grant Report Form - Within two months of the conference date, you should submit a completed copy of this form to info@kirkhousetrust.org.
• Training Grant Report Form - Within two months of the course or visit completion date, you should submit a completed copy of this form to info@kirkhousetrust.org.

© 2012 Kirkhouse Trust. Scottish Charity No. 030508.
Material from this website may be reproduced in print or electronically for educational and research purposes. The copyright is retained on any copies made and the name of the Kirkhouse Trust should not be used in any publicity or advertising material without the express permission of the Trust itself.